Consular offices cite a “training initiative” for the sudden halt, even as a proposed $103,265 H-1B fee threatens to reshape skilled migration to America
The United States has abruptly paused immigrant visa appointments at its embassies and consulates worldwide, just a day after the Trump administration floated a staggering $103,265 fee for H-1B work visas. Applicants who had interviews scheduled reportedly received emails informing them of rescheduling, with no clear timeline for new dates.
A State Department spokesperson attributed the freeze to a global training initiative for consular staff, saying visa service appointments would be adjusted accordingly. However, as per a state department official, the move also aims to restrict access for applicants deemed likely to depend on US public assistance.
The H-1B fee hike, proposed by the Department of Homeland Security, follows Trump’s earlier push to raise the fee to $100,000 , a plan blocked by courts in June. The new proposal will undergo a 30-day public comment period before taking effect, and is expected to hit Indian students and tech workers particularly hard.
This latest move fits into a broader pattern since Trump’s return to office in 2025: visa and green card revocations, application rejections tied to campus protests over Gaza, and expanded ICE raids and deportations. Human rights groups have criticized the crackdown as discriminatory, warning it fuels racial profiling and undermines due process protections for immigrants and minorities across the country.
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